Activity in Australia's hospitals, both public and private, rose
in the last financial year according to Australian Hospital
Statistics 2001-02, released today by the Australian Institute
of Health and Welfare.
There were 6.4 million hospital admissions recorded in 2001-02,
up 4.2% on the previous year. Overall patient-days (the total
number of days spent in hospital by patients) rose by 3.4% to 23.2
million.
Most of the growth in hospital activity during the year occurred
in the private sector, but the public sector showed rises too,
after a decline the previous year.
Private hospital admissions increased by an estimated 9.5% to
2.4 million admissions, while public hospital admissions increased
by 2.6% to 4.0 million.
The number of patient-days in private hospitals increased by
3.3% to almost 7.0 million, while for public hospitals the increase
was 0.6% to 16.3 million patient-days.
The average length of stay in Australian hospitals continues to
decline, and is now 3.6 days, down from 3.7 days in 2000-01.
However, for patients who stayed at least one night, the average
length of stay increased from 6.4 days in 2000-01 to 6.5 days in
2001-02.
Same day stays increased by 5.6% in public hospitals and by an
estimated 11.8% in private hospitals.
Acting Head of the AIHW's Resources Division, Jenny Hargreaves,
said that admissions and patient-days have continued to increase
over the last decade.
'Between 1993-94 and 2001-02, admissions increased by almost 40%
overall, with public hospital admissions going up by about 20%, and
private hospital admissions by about 85%.'
'Over the same period, the number of patient-days in public
hospitals rose by just over 5%, while for private hospitals they
increased markedly, by 36%.'
The average cost per stay in public hospitals in 2001-02
(adjusted for patient condition and case complexity) was $3,017.
Total public hospital expenditure in 2001-02 was estimated at $16.8
billion, an increase of 5.0% in real terms on 2000-01
expenditure.
The median waiting time for elective surgery in public hospitals
remains unchanged at 27 days since 1999-00. During 2001-02, 4.5% of
patients waited longer than 365 days, compared with 4.4% in
2000-01. Most surgical specialties had median waiting times of less
than 30 days.
The report notes that two procedures increasingly being
undertaken in the private sector are chemotherapy and kidney
dialysis. The proportion of all chemotherapy admissions that were
in private hospitals rose from 15% to 51% in the 8 years to
2001-02. For kidney dialysis, the increase was from 8% to 14%.
30 June 2003
Further information: Ms Jenny Hargreaves, AIHW,
(02) 6244 1121 or 0407 012 520
For media report summaries: Publications Officer,
AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1032
Availability: Check the AIHW
Publications Catalogue for details.